'FLAMINGO'
MAIN READER
PROSE :1 THE LAST LESSON
( Alphonse Dauded)
[Introduction]
The story 'The Last Lesson' is set in the days of the Franco - Prussian war . The french district of Alsace and Lorraine had passed into Prussian hands. The order came from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master was came the next day. The story tells the effect of this news on the life at a school in Alsace.
( SUMMARY WITH EXPLANATION)
Little France started very late for the school that morning. In fact, he was reluctant to go to school. He was in great dread of a scrolling from his French teacher, M. Hamel had announced that he would question the class on participles. Franz didn't know even the first word about them . For a moment, he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. The day was warm and bright . He wanted to enjoy the chirping birds and the Prussian soldiers drilling at the back of sawmill. However, He resisted the temptation and headed for the school.
When Franz passed the town-hall, he saw a large crowd reading the bulletin-board. For the last two years, they had been getting all their bad news from it. Franz didn't stop there and rushed to the school.
When Franz entered the school, he found there strange quietness as if it were Sunday morning. Through the window he saw his classmates were already in their places and M. Hamel was walking up and down with his iron ruler under his arm. Blushed and frightened, Franz entered the class. To his surprise, M. Hamel allowed in kindly to take his seat.
Soon Franz got over his fear. He noticed that the teacher had put on his formal dress that he would only wear on the inspection or prize days. Most surprising to Franz was the presence of the villagers at the back benches which always lay empty. Then came the shocking news that it was their last lesson in French and the new German teacher would take charge on the following day.
Franz was taken aback by the turn of events. He felt sorry for not learning his lessons in French. Now he felt a sudden love for the language. his books which had been a great nuisance till then appeared to be his old friends. He even started liking M. Hamel. He forgot all about his ruler and his crankiness.
Just then, Franz hear his name called. It was his turn to recite. He tried his best but he got mixed up on the first words and felt very ashamed. M. Hamel didn't scold him . He remarked that the great trouble with the people of Alsace was putting off learning till the next day. Even the parents were not anxious enough to have their children learn. They preferred to put them to work on a farm or at the mills so as to have a little more money. He blamed himself as well for this. He had often sent them to water his plants or gave them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.
Then , M. Hamel talked of the French language. He called it the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest , the most logical language. He called upon all present to guard this language among them and never forget it . As long as the enslaved people held fast to their language, it were as if they had the key to their prison. Their language could liberate them forever.
After recitation, language, grammar and writing, M. Hamel taught history. Just then, the church-clock struck twelve. The Prussian soldiers returning from their drill, sounded their trumpet. With a choked self, M. Hamel wrote 'Long Live France!' on the blackboard in large letters. Then learning his head against the wall and without a word , he made a gesture to all present with his hand: " school is dismissed — you may go ." The story depicts the pathos of the whole situation about how people feel when they don't learn their own language and then losing asset in M. Hamel.
(Textbook Questions)
Think as you read
Q.1. what was the Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Ans. Franz was expected to be prepared with the lesson on 'participles'. His teacher M. Hamel announced that he would question the class on participles. However, Franz didn't know even the first word about them.
Q.2. what did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans. As Franz entered the school that day, he found something unusual about the school. Everything was still and quite as if it was a Sunday morning. His classmates were already in their places. His teacher M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes. He was walking up and down with his iron ruler under the arm.
Q.3. what had been put on the bulletin- board?
Ans. An order that had came from Berlin had been put on the bulletin-board. The order read that from the next day only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would come the following day.
Q.4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans. The order from Berlin created a wave of dismay through the school. Both the teacher and the students were deeply shocked and upset . Everything in school was so quit and still. The whole school seemed strange and solemn M. Hamel had put on his finest dress which he wore only on inspection and prize days. Some villagers were sitting quietly on the back benches.
Q.5. How did Franz feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
Ans. Franz have not much love for M. Hamel as he was a very strict teacher. He didn't even like to go to school, but wished to spend his time outdoor enjoying the weather and playing around. But when he came to know it was going to be their last lesson in French he felt a great love for the language and understood everything they the teacher had taught.
(Understand the text)
Q.1. The people in this story (The Last lesson) suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. what shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans. After reading the older to Berlin, the people of Alsace suddenly realize that their language was invaluable to them. The order started that they would no longer be allowed to study French in their schools. They would be taught only German. This older stirred patriotic feelings in them. Some distinguished village people like old Hauser went to the school even with their primer and sat there on the back benches. They did so to show their respect for their country and language that was their no more. M. Hemel told all present in the class that French is the most beautiful language in the world— the clearest and the most logical. They all must guard it among themselves and never forget it. The audience realize how precious their language was to them. Even little Franz, who had no inclination to learn language, grew sentimental about it." This is your last lesson" — these words from his teacher were a great thunderclap to Franz. He felt sorry for neglecting his lessons in French. He developed a sudden craving for French and felt an attachment to his French teacher.
Q.2. Franz thinks, "will they make them sing in German, even the pigeon?" What could this mean?
Ans. A conqueror can only a country physical by using force. But it is difficult to conquer their minds. For this he need to learn their language. Language is a very powerful weapon. The Germans imposed their language on the people of Alsace and Lorraine. But this imposition meet with stiff resistance. As long as French hold on to their language, they can't be defeated. In this statement little Franz wonders if the Germans would succeed even teaching the pigeons their language.
(Some others Questions)
Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 words)
Q.1. what changes came over little Franz after he heard M. Hamel's announcement?
Ans . Franz was taken aback by the turn of events. He instantly felt sorry for not learning his lessons in French. he felt a sudden fascination for the language. He even started liking M. Hamel he forgot all about his ruler and his crankiness.
Q.2. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different from that on other day ?
Ans. Usually when school began, there was a great bustle. But that morning when Franz entered the school, he found it all so still! Later Franz got to know that change was due to the news, that all the schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only German. For the students, it was their last French lesson. It upset all present in the school, hence the unusual atmosphere.
Q.3. what was tempting Franz to keep away from school on the day of the last lesson?
Ans. Little Franz was rather disinclined to go to school on the day of the last lesson because the weather was very warm and there were birds chirping at the edge of the woods he could the sound of the Prussian soldiers exercising outside in the open. All these things appeared to be more tempting for him than the rules of participles taught in the class.
Q.4. what change did Franz notice in M. Hamel when he entered the class?
Ans . He found his teacher very kind and understanding. He didn't scold him for coming late to the class. Secondly, he found his teacher wearing the formal dress he normally wore on prize days.
Q.5." This is your last lesson." How did Franz react to this declaration of M. Hamel?
Ans . Franz was shocked and surprise when he heard these words. He felt ashamed that he had always ignore the French classes. Even he disliked for the teacher disappeared and he attended the last class attentively and understood everything that was taught on that day.
Long Answer Type Questions (100-125 words)
Q.1. what did M. Hamel teach his students in his last lesson? what impact did it have on his students?
Ans. In his last lesson, M. Hamel first the talk about the way some of the students and the villagers had been neglecting the learning of their language. But he didn't blame anyone but the showed of lot of understanding. Unlike his usual self he was Kind enough to acknowledge his laxity towards teaching his students regularly. Then he talked of the French language saying that its was the most beautiful language in the world. He told his students that they must guard their language among them and never forget it. Thereafter, he he opened the grammar book and read to them their lesson. He explained everything with patience. After the grammar, they had a lesson in writing. That day, M. Hamel had new notebooks for the students, written in a beautiful round hand—'France, Alsace.' All the students listened to their teacher and wrote in their notebooks very quietly and attentively. Franz had never understood his lessons do well. He, who had never before any inclination to learn the language, grew sentimental about it.
Q.2). How does telling the story from young Franz' s point of view affect the reader's reaction to the story? How does this point of view help build suspense at the start of the story?
Ans. Young Franz is the narrator of the story. He is a young school boy who loves not going to school. He hates the tyrannical teacher and the difficult language French. He couldn't follow the concept of participles and was really scared of getting punished by the teacher. But the movement the comes to know that it was his last lesson and the teacher was going away his attitude undergoes a chance. He immediately fall in love with the language and the man he taught it. His innocence and his love for freedom make the story even more interesting to read. The class room atmosphere used by the author to create nationalism and take pride in one's national identity is worth appreciation.
{Value Based Questions}
Q. 1) Read the following and the question that follows:
Then he turned to the blackboard took a piece of chalk and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could-–
"Vive La France!"
Abraham Lincoln, a former president of America said,
"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.
I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."
After reading the lesson and the above quote of Abraham Lincoln you begin to reflect on the lost spirit of patriotism amongst the youth in India due to which there is no respect for one's countrymen and no determination amongst the youth to lead the country to a better future.
Write an article in about 100 for a national magazine on the need for revival of patriotic spirit amongst the youth in India.
Ans. The need for Revival of Patriotic spirit amongst the youth in India
( For a National Magazine )
Youth in any country is considered to be a fountain head of idealism and full of Patriotism. It is for the youth to give the nation a new moral impetus that will cleanse the country from all its ills. Today the youth of our country don't seem to be guided by these ideals. They are purely materialistic and are driven by a crazy love for a superficial self- advancement than anything else. For our young boy and girls, Our country holds no better value than just a geographical identity. Undoubtedly, 'patriotism' need to be redefined and revived in India. We probably find our Patriotic spirit stirred up when there is an Indo-Pak cricket match or when terrorist bomb our trains . But we definitely forget it when we cast our vote in the elections, when a hungry beggar asks for a ruppes, when we shameless throw garbage on the road and so on ..............
Patriotic emotions cannot be engendered in a windfall. They will have to be engraved on tender hearts that will remain placid. Our educational policies thus need to be revamped and reformed. More national awareness and respect should be embedded into the scholastic curriculum. small actions, persuaded with a notion of doing good to other countrymen is true Patriotism. Today, our country wants awakened citizens to move forward and it is in this sphere where we have to exercise our true Patriotic spirit.
Q. 2). The lesson ' The Last Lesson' makes you think about the love for one's language. Somehow, it also makes you wonder at the possibility of people carrying their Pride in their language too far which may result in divisions and conflicts between in a country specially like India. Picking up such thoughts, write an article in about 100 words on 'Linguistic chauvinism ( Fanaticism) are n India.'
Ans. Linguistic chauvinism in India
Diversity in India is an established fact but unity in this diversity has many a times eluded Indian citizens. For a developing country like India, national integration is the crying need of the hour. There are, however, several obstacle in the way of integration. One of the most formidable obstacles is Linguistic chauvinism. The language of India. In South India, people instantly revolted against this and demanded secession from India. The constitution has been amended to meet the demand of these people . In the Indian union the States have been organised on the linguistic basis.
The question of language is a sensitive one. People get easily provoked over this issue. The linguistic Fanaticism leads remaining that creates porochial Outlook and narrow- mindedness. If we Indians keep remaining disunited in the name of language, the country will face only destruction. If we do not sink petty differences ,our freedom is in peril. Division of the basis of language will have serious repercussions. We must realize that we the strong bond of the same cultural heritage and must not let ourselves fall apart. Toleration , co-operation and feeling of brotherhood should guide us in maintaining the national and social harmony. Language is only a link to communicate and unite and not to disintegrate and destroy.